Sustainable Energy Systems MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Engineering

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Engineering

College

College of Science and Engineering

Study location

King's Buildings campus

Accreditation

Available

Apply now

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About the degree programme

The energy crisis is forcing the world to secure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. 

Our MSc programme in Sustainable Energy Systems will equip you to contribute to a more sustainable future.

The programme is grounded in engineering, but you will be encouraged to consider the societal, economic, environmental and policy aspects of the industry.

We place a strong emphasis on energy systems, where electricity is the final product, and you will consider energy in the wider context of resources, conversion technologies, consumption patterns, efficiency and regulation.

You will acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the deployment of renewable energies in grid-connected systems, and will also be able to explore off-grid systems if this is your area of interest.

United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

Based on our compulsory course material, this degree aligns with many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the top three being:

  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 13: Climate Action

Programme rankings

  • The School of Engineering is consistently ranked in the UK's top 10 universities for engineering (Times Higher Education rankings by subject 2025 and QS World University rankings by subject 2025)
  • The School of Engineering’s joint submission with Heriot-Watt University in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) was ranked 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK by Times Higher Education, based on the quality and breadth of our combined research
  • The University of Edinburgh is ranked 7th in the world and 2nd in the UK for sustainability, recognising our leadership in creating a more sustainable world (2025 QS World University Rankings)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place:

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

How and when to pay the deposit

Costs

Additional programme costs

You may wish to consider purchasing your own laptop, however you can also make use of our laptop and internet loan services for free while studying with us.

IT Requirements and Support

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

HCI Scholarships are part of the support programme for ‘advanced skills’ within the Housing Construction Infrastructure (HCI) Skills Gateway, which is an employability and skills support mechanism funded by the Scottish government within the Edinburgh & SE Scotland City Region Deal.

Scholarships are available to MSc and PG Dip students domiciled or working in the South-East of Scotland, more specifically the councils of:

  • East Lothian
  • Mid Lothian
  • West Lothian
  • City of Edinburgh
  • Fife
  • Scottish Borders

Applications are particularly welcome from applicants of groups underrepresented in the construction industry (public and private sector).

View details: Learn more about HCI Skills Gateway Scholarships

ScottishPower has been building relationships with universities in our communities for a number of years. Working together, we aim to support development of future talent while mitigating the projected skills gap within the energy sector.

The programme is designed to financially support high achieving recent graduates in Spain, the United Kingdom and Mexico, who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in industry relevant fields such as engineering, smart grids, renewable energy, sustainability, energy and environment, information technology, big data, cybersecurity, and more.

Value: Full tuition fees plus a monthly maintenance allowance
View details: Learn more about the Scottish Power Scholarship

Mastercard Foundation Scholarships are available for this programme. The postgraduate study scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year will accept applications from 1st October 2025 at 10:00 AM until 7th November 2025 at 5:00 PM (UK Time). 

Applicants must be citizens of an African country and residents in an African country. Applications from refugees and displaced people who have left their African home country to live elsewhere on the continent are also welcome.

For more information and how to apply, visit:

Mastercard Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships 

View details: Learn more about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in engineering or physics.
 
If you apply with a background in another field, you may be accepted if you hold either:
• a UK first class honours degree, or its international equivalent, and have studied mathematics to first year undergraduate level, OR
• a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in addition to extensive professional experience or knowledge in the field of Sustainable Energy Systems involving a range of engineering aspects.
 
You must also be able to demonstrate a strong interest in the energy sector.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The programme runs over 12 months. You will take two semesters of taught courses followed by a research project leading to the submission of your masters dissertation.

The courses correspond to 120 credits of taught material, plus 60 credits of a research project.

Research project and dissertation

After the completion of your taught courses, you will focus exclusively on a research project and dissertation over the summer. You will be able to develop your own project under the supervision of one of our academics and you could work collaboratively with industry or other organisations. 

The project is conducted across highly relevant and multidisciplinary themes, within the Institute for Energy Systems and increasingly across other institutes within the School of Engineering.

We offer a wide range of topics including:

  • Wind energy
  • Solar energy
  • Tidal energy
  • Wave energy
  • Life cycle assessment in energy systems
  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Energy demand management and storage
  • Smart grids
  • Decarbonisation of transport
  • Decarbonisation of heating and cooling
  • Policy and innovation in energy systems

Sustainability

Compulsory course material on this programme reflects the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily:

  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 13: Climate Action

Depending on the optional courses you choose to take, you will have the opportunity to explore others.

Further your knowledge of sustainability with our free training and resources

Social and civic responsibility is a key focus of the University.

Learn more about our focus on social and civic responsibility in our Climate Strategy

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Learning outcomes

On this programme, you will:

  • benefit from the programme’s multidisciplinary design, with courses, teaching staff and supervisors drawn from our Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical and Civil engineering disciplines
  • acquire in-depth technical knowledge, balanced with practical experience
  • actively undertake research
  • engage with the Institute for Energy Systems
  • access world-class research facilities
  • gain opportunities to work with industry

On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to:

  • specify and design energy systems that can deliver sustainable energy
  • contribute to cutting-edge developments in sustainable energy
  • apply your advanced research skills and training, in both industrial and academic settings
  • understand and tackle the global energy trilemma of supplying secure, equitable and environmentally sustainable energy

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Accreditation

Accreditation of this programme for CEng (Further Learning) means that our graduates who are seeking to become Chartered Engineers can count their MSc award as one year of Further Learning when applying for the Chartered Engineer status.

The CEng accreditation has to date been awarded by the Energy Institute (EI), which is an independent professional body. It gives students and employers confidence in the quality of this programme.

Accreditation by the EI is awarded through a renewal-based and periodic accreditation review process which is currently underway for the academic year 2026/27 onwards.

Students from the School of Engineering can sign up to become Student member of the EI free of charge for the duration of their studies.

Energy Institute

Career opportunities

Our graduates go on to a wide range of activities in industry, public organisations or academia.

This programme has well-established links with industry. Many graduates find employment with leading national and international companies involved with energy, consultancy and engineering.

Our recent graduates are now working in a variety of fields and roles, including:

  • Consultants for power systems, energy and environment or renewable energy
  • Electrical engineers
  • Subsea engineers
  • Civil or structural engineers
  • Automotive engineers

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 3 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.

We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

We may make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis. However, the majority of applications will be held until the advertised deadline.

We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.

If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:

  • your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you know
  • your application is still being considered, it will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline, and we will be in touch once a decision is made

The final deadline may be extended if any places remain on the programme.

If the final deadline is extended, we encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

Selection deadlines

RoundApplication deadlineDecisions made or applications rolled to the next deadline
115 December1 March
231 March31 May
331 May31 July

When to submit your supporting documents

You must submit all supporting documents by the application deadline, or we will be unable to consider your application. Regardless of when you apply, you have 28 days from submitting your application to supply any supporting documents through the Application Hub, after which we will automatically reject your application.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you need to apply for a student visa, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Phone line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 5737

Academic contact

Dr Brian Sellar

Programme Director

Contact details

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